Sherry Boston DeKalb County District Attorney

June is recognized as Pride Month. The Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney is committed to supporting the unique needs of LGBTQ+ victims and their families. We educate our staff to understand how to serve these individuals with care. Every member of the DeKalb Judicial Circuit community deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

We were excited to welcome our Summer 2026 class of interns this week! The group attended a two-day orientation where they got acclimated with the District Attorney’s Office and had the chance to meet DA Boston and other leaders in our office.

A big welcome to all of our interns! We look forward to working with you this summer!

Law Students:
Kennedy Austin - 3L at Atlanta’s John Marshall School of Law
Charles F**s – 3L at Georgia State University College of Law
Amina Mashhour – 2L at Atlanta’s John Marshall School of Law
Tyler McGrath – 3L Atlanta’s John Marshall School of Law
Sophie Minsk – 3L at Emory University School of Law
John Pahud – 3L at Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law
John Po***ck – 2L at Georgia State University College of Law
Jon’Dasha Price – 2L at the University of Houston Law Center
Hannah Switzer – 3L at Georgia State University College of Law

Investigations:
Ananya Das – Rising Senior at Georgia State University
Christopher Gardner – Rising Senior at Huntingdon College
Mya Keels – Graduating Third Year at Hampton University
Anna Richardson – Senior at the University of Alabama
Anthony Torres – Rising Senior at University of West Georgia

Victim Services:
Noria Grayson-Brock – Senior at Georgia State University
Addison Coty – Rising Sophomore at University of Maryland, College Park
Mirav Mukherjee – Rising Junior at Emory University
Kassidi Raymond – Rising Senior at Kennesaw State University
Gabriella Zarubinsky – Rising Junior at Emory University

Data Interns:
Sumaya Abdi – Rising Senior at Emory University
Tobi Olonade – Rising Senior at Kennesaw State University
Mallory Walker – Senior at Kennesaw State University

Communications and External Affairs:
Shray Bhatnagar – Rising Sophomore at Kennesaw State University
Boston Simpson – Rising Sophomore at Alabama State University

Undergraduate Interns:
Maggie Flinn – Rising Junior at the University of Georgia
Mike Rahming – Rising Senior at Hampton University
Raquel Tartt – Rising Junior at Howard University

Wishing a happy Eid al-Adha to all who celebrate!

Last week our office was honored to host the International Homicide Investigators Association (IHIA) for their three-day Officer Involved Critical Incident course. This training outlines best practices for investigations into officer involved shooting cases and in-custody deaths through lecture, critical examination of video footage and scenario-based training.

Participants represented multiple agencies including the Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney, Atlanta Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (NM), Brookhaven Police Department, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, Daphne Police Dept. (AL), Dougherty County Police Department, Fort Valley Police Department., Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, Georgia State University Police, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, Fairhope Police Department (AL), Foley Police (AL), New Jersey State Police, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (FL), and Ontario Provincial Police (Canada).

Earlier this month, Senior Assistant District Attorney Latonia Hines in our Crime Strategies and Community Partnerships Unit attended the May Coffee with a Cop event with the DeKalb County Police Department's East Precinct. Thank you to Bojangles for hosting. We love getting the chance to connect with members of the community we serve. Everyone was especially excited to see community volunteer Miss Marjorie this month!

On Memorial Day we pause to remember the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and honor their memory. May we never forget the true meaning of this day.

DeKalb County administrative offices and courts are closed on Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day.

I want to express my deepest condolences to everyone mourning the sudden loss of District Attorney Robert Busbee of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit. My thoughts are especially with his family, including his wife and children, as they navigate this difficult time. Please know that people all over Georgia are holding you in their hearts.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of the Honorable Robert Busbee, District Attorney of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit, who passed away unexpectedly this morning. Our thoughts are with you as you navigate this difficult time, and we are here to support the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office in any way we can.

DECATUR MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER IN BEATING DEATH OF GIRLFRIEND’S 19-MONTH-OLD SON

State v. Kentavious Hardnett

Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces the conviction by jury trial of a Decatur man accused of beating and killing his girlfriend’s 19-month-old son.

On Thursday, May 21, 2026, a jury found Kentavious Hardnett, 28, guilty of Felony Murder and Cruelty to Children in the First Degree in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s 19-month-old son on January 24, 2021.

According to the investigation, the victim’s mother had known Defendant Hardnett for two years, and had been in a relationship with him for two months. On the morning of January 21, 2021, she and her son went to Defendant Hardnett’s apartment on Hatton Drive in Scottdale. She left the toddler in Hardnett’s care and went to work around 3:30 p.m. The mother reported that he had no visible injuries or behavioral changes during a video call with her around 5:00 p.m.

At approximately 7:00 p.m., Defendant Hardnett took the toddler, who was unresponsive, to a neighboring apartment. The neighbor contacted 911, but when emergency response took too long, she drove Hardnett and the toddler to Emory Decatur Hospital. When they arrived, the toddler was in cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. He regained a pulse after medical professionals in the ER performed CPR and intubated him. Medical staff noted bruising on his forehead and ears.

The toddler was transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). A CT scan revealed bilateral subdural hemorrhages, as well as retinal hemorrhages in both of his eyes that were too numerous to count. He never regained consciousness and could not breathe on his own. The victim was declared brain dead, and life support was removed on January 24, 2021.

Officers with the DeKalb County Police Department detained Defendant Hardnett at Emory Decatur Hospital on January 21, 2021, and transported him to police headquarters. He denied assaulting his girlfriend’s son. Hardnett told investigators that the toddler fell asleep at approximately 5:30 p.m., and he put him in bed. Hardnett stated that the toddler fell off of the bed, and when he picked him up, he was unresponsive and making an odd moaning sound. Defendant Hardnett said that was when he took the toddler to the neighbor’s apartment for help.

The Child Abuse Pediatrician at CHOA diagnosed the victim as suffering from abusive head trauma. His autopsy revealed multiple subgaleal contusions on his scalp that were consistent with blows to his head. The Child Abuse Pediatrician, medical examiner, and pediatric neuroradiologist all concluded that the victim’s injuries were inflicted, and not consistent with a fall from a bed.

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Nora L. Polk will schedule a sentencing hearing in the coming weeks.

The case, assigned to the Child Crimes Unit, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sarah Hilleren, with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney Emily Donkervoet, District Attorney Investigator Antoinette Beyah, and Supervising Victim Advocate Yuzellie Garcia. DeKalb County Police Department Detective Moore led the initial investigation.

I had the privilege of attending the NAACP Annual Unity Breakfast last weekend at Peace Baptist Church. It was an inspiring morning that provided the opportunity to connect with community members and fellow DeKalb County leaders.